Personalities

Christy Ring - Cork
Despite playing much of his career in pre-Television era, Christy Ring’s reputation as the greatest hurler of all time has never been questioned. What little grainy footage remains of the Cloyne maestro simply buttresses his legend.
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Christy Ring - Cork
Despite playing much of his career in pre-Television era, Christy Ring’s reputation as the greatest hurler of all time has never been questioned. What little grainy footage remains of the Cloyne maestro simply buttresses his legend.

As long as the ancient game is played, the man known simply as ‘Ringy’ will be remembered as one if its finest exponents. Aficionados of the small ball game will argue that we will never see his likes again: not just for his artistry and mastery of the game, but his ability to maintain the highest standards over a career that spanned 24 years at inter-county level and many more with his club, Glen Rovers.

Ring made his Senior debut for Cork in 1939 and was still playing at the highest level in 1963, when he won a Railway Cup medal aged 43. In that time the Glen Rovers clubman won eight All-Ireland medals and four National League titles with Cork and 12 Railway Cup medals with Munster.

He was a member of Cork’s famed four-in-a-row team of the 1940s, when the Rebels won the Liam MacCarthy Cup between 1941 and ‘44, adding another title in ’46. Having established his star credentials on Leeside, it was during this era of unparalleled success that Ring began to receive national acclaim.

He etched his legend indelibly in the public consciousness with a sublime performance in the ’46 final, when he captained Cork to victory over Kilkenny in a memorable All-Ireland final. The final was a showcase for his extraordinary talents – strength, speed and elegant stickwork - and his performance that day is still spoken of with reverence.

In 1954, he collected a record eighth All-Ireland medal - a total which has only ever been matched by Tipperary’s John Doyle. Ring was to have one more opportunity to add another winners’ medal to his collection, in the 1956 final against Wexford, but he was denied by a brilliant save by Model County goalkeeper Art Foley at the death.

Remarkably, Ring’s legend was such that when Cork reached the 1966 All-Ireland final, there was a concerted effort in the national press and by the Cork public to coax him out of retirement. However, it was Ring himself who, with typical understatement, suggested that he did not deserve to be selected.

However, he did continue to play with his club, Glen Rovers, with whom he won an amazing 13 county titles, until his retirement from the game in 1967. Following his retirement, Ring was a selector on for the Cork team which won three All-Ireland Championships in a row, between 1976 and ’78.

Christy Ring died in 1979, but his memory lives on in Cork, where a bridge spanning the River Lee is named in his honour and the county grounds, Páirc Uí Rinn, bear his name.

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DJ Carey - Kilkenny
DJ Carey’s heroic feats in the black and amber of Kilkenny guaranteed his status as the first modern superstar of the game. The Gowran native’s impressive haul of five All-Ireland medals and four National League titles is all the more remarkable given that they came in an era of more modest achievement for the Cats.
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DJ Carey - Kilkenny
DJ Carey’s heroic feats in the black and amber of Kilkenny guaranteed his status as the first modern superstar of the game. The Gowran native’s impressive haul of five All-Ireland medals and four National League titles is all the more remarkable given that they came in an era of more modest achievement for the Cats.

A late developer, Carey served notice of his enormous potential towards the end of his time in the famed hurling nursery, St Kieran’s College, where he won All-Ireland Colleges titles in 1988 and 1988. He also won an All-Ireland Minor Championship with Kilkenny in 1988.

Remarkably, Carey’s talents extended to playing as a goalkeeper in his early days, and it was in that position that he made his inter-county debut in 1989. However, it was not long before he was moved out the field and he began to earn his reputation as the finest score-getter of his generation.

He won a National League medal and an All-Ireland U21 Championship in 1990 before the first of five senior All-Ireland medals came along two years later, as Kilkenny beat Cork by 3-10 to 1-12 in the final.

A year later, in the All-Ireland semi-final win over Antrim, he scored one of the greatest goals ever seen in Croke Park. Carey doubled on a ball from his left side only to see his shot rebound off the crossbar before reacting first to bat the ball into the top corner. With two swings of the hurley he had neatly encapsulated his awesome abilities. A second All-Ireland winners’ medal came in September when the Cats beat Galway in the final.

Subsequently, Kilkenny went six years without All-Ireland success. In 1998, Carey called time on his inter-county career, a decision that attracted huge media interest. However, he soon reversed his decision and was back in the Kilkenny colours, although the Cats lost the 1998 and ’99 finals.

Redemption was just around the corner, though, as Carey underlined his reputation as one of the game’s finest exponents with a mesmerising performance in the 2000 final, scoring two goals in a win over Offaly that finally ended any arguments over his place amongst the hurling greats.

Further All-Ireland medals came under Brian Cody in 2000 and ’02 before the Young Irelands great announced his retirement from the game before the start of the 2006 season.
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Roscommon play Galway this Sunday in the Connacht Senior Football Championship. Who will win?

Personalities

Christy Ring - Cork

Christy Ring - Cork

DJ Carey - Kilkenny

DJ Carey - Kilkenny

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